GMAT Prep 1 : 680 ... devastated

Question

Took the first gmat prep : got a 680 Q-45 and V-36. This after a months preparation. I must admit i have never been great at Quant. But have put in a lot effort and still stuck below 700.

I desperately need at least a 720.
GMAT date is 23rd April.

Please suggest ways to build up the score.

Have scored above 700`s in all Kaplan Tests and near 68- in Mgmats.

What should be the ideal break-up of Q and V for a score above 720. What should i be working at to reach my target.

Hussain15 · Answer

I hope you would have managed your time well & didn't leave any question unattmepted. If thats the case then you first look to attempt all the questions.

Also, I think that CAT practice is the key, try to attempt as many CATs in the next week or so as you can. Check & review your error log (if you have one). Go through the answers & explanations of 700+ level questions on these forums!!!

Best of luck & keep us posted.

jimmy86 · Answer

thanks.... i didnt leave any questions unattempted. But analyzed the GMAT prep test results i felt bad timing of was the key failure. Will surely practise all 700+ questions on the forum.

One amazing fact was that i got 7 SC incorrect and for all of them the OA was A. So whenever i am not sure on a SC i will surely choose A and move on :-)

Also on the Quant i didnt get any incorrect answers in the first 23. and then 12 incorrect in the last 14 :-(

... timing is the key... took a lot of time up front and had to rush through in the end

Also on the Quant i didnt get any incorrect answers in the first 23. and then 12 incorrect in the last 14 :-(

... timing is the key... took a lot of time up front and had to rush through in the end

jimmy86 · Answer

Hey I took the GMATPREP 1 again--- scored a 750, Q 49 and V 42 ....
 and found it surprising that not more than 2 questions were repeated in the Quant and Verbal sections combined. does the gmat prep have such a large pool of questions?.... I am also not sure whether i should be convinced with the score... had 10 incorrect in quant and 11 in verbal.
One thing is clear the GMATPREP has, in general a tougher pool of questions than the OG and the Kaplan Tests. I fell the MGMAT test are very similar to the GMATPREP.

Should i expect the actual gmat to be tougher than the GMATprep?  my test date is 23rd of this month and plan to take the second gmatprep 3 days before the actual test.

tarkaston · Answer

Hi jimmy, as far as I know and feel Gmat Prep is the most representative of the real gmat test. What your score from MGMAT? I think if it's also in 750 range you're good to get your target score. You can use this calculator here to help you predict you real score

https://gmatclub.com/gmat-score-calculator/

mattapraveen · Answer

The actual GMAT is a notch higher than the GMAT prep and OG questions, but the Quant of Manhattan tests is way too lengthy and hard compared to the actual GMAT.
If you manage your time well and with a bit of luck, you are on track to get your target score. All the best.

jimmy86 · Answer

thanks a lot tarkaston ; praveen,

The problem is that my scores are varying drastically...
On Manhattan my scores vary from 680 to 710 ,
on the gmat prep-1 i got 680 on the first practice test and then 750 on the second one.
kaplan score varies from 680 to 740....
But i am consistently bad on DS and SC

So i am really not sure where i stand.
@ praveen : any tips for last minute improvements? DS/SC

Desperately need a score above 720

mattapraveen · Answer

I don't know of any last minute tricks for SC, if I did, I myself wouldn't have landed up with a 680 and wouldn't be preparing for the second test right now.

DS, yes, there are very repeated type of DS on the GMAT. You gotta have a feel of that. By reading the question, you need to know what type of DS question they are referring to. DS is very easy to score, if you can decipher that. Try to work on that. An example of it, many times when the answer is C, you will have to laboriously solve using both I and II. As the calculations are a bit laborious and you might solve it wrongly and tend to go for E. So, if you figure out that that the question is a typical DS question requiring you to spend a tad few seconds more, but sure to land up with a C, you need to make sure you got the calculation right and go to the next question. Initially, I was not doing good on DS, but once I started to pick the DS question type, my accuracy increased.

ravsg · Answer

Its great that you were able to improve quant score ... SC does require focus too ... I am also doing average in sc ... atb

Anonymous · Answer

I took the GMAT last year twice... First try 600, second try 700. For the second try, I did the Kaplan in-class course which was instrumental in getting my score higher. However, I found that the Kaplan Verbal exercises were not very close to what was done in reality on the GMAT and that the Kaplan math exercises were easier than the ones on the GMAT. In the end, my Kaplan test reflected exactly my score on the GMAT, mind you the split was not exact (high math score, average verbal when in reality I got a high verbal and average math score).

You seem to be in that ballpark. Now, one tip I have to give you is don't put soooo much pressure on yourself that you crack the day of the test. If you get a 700, that is very good too! I got in at INSEAD with a 700 and good essays. I bet you that if you score anywhere from 680-800 any first rate B-school will definetly take a good look at your application.

I hope this helps...

jimmy86 · Answer

Thank you so much cheekyzia My score on the second Gmat Prep was 750(Q 49 , V 43).... so my score varied from 680 to 750 on the two prep`s and thats getting me worried.... i make stupid mistakes.... i think its the pressure of under performing after putting in so much time .... i think i just need to calm myself.... Thanks again for the advice... Test in two days..... GMAT here i come... :twisted:

mattapraveen · Answer

Dude!!!!!how did the date go??? Could crack the girl or not???

Give us some good news!!!

jimmy86 · Answer

Screwed up big time..... 670 (Q45, V37) .... Retake on the 29th.... Well the Quant section was easy just like the gmat prep... and i had been doing well i dont know how i screwed up. Verbal was also ok.... i think i just need to work a bit on my timing and take it again with some confidence... I gotso nervous on the third quant question that i was stuck on it for like 7 mins... :-p.... So 29th of May it is... and i hope to invert the first two digits of my current score.... will be focusing on DS and SC thats were is screwed up. And you`ll be seeing a lot more of me on forum now ... tk

mattapraveen · Answer

Its still a competetive score. Good luck with the preparation. I am retaking on the 25th Jun. A bit rusty right now, so trying to get back to groove. Lets see whats in store for us in the second try.

jimmy86 · Answer

Ya its been almost a week since i have been off books... Got the AWA today.... a saddening score of 5.... will prepare for AWA too this time.... 
Best of luck for your prep....
hope we both are well above 700 in the next attempt....

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